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Primitives explained - a bit.

By theoldhomestore, Oct 1 2015 04:50PM

TOHS buys to compliment its own vintage 'style,' but has quite an eclectic taste.

On one hand, drawn like a moth to a flame by mid-century modern & kitsch - especially regarding kitchen storage, but on the other to a style known in the US as 'primitive' - smallsare oftenirritatingly abbreviated to 'prims.'

In the UK, we probably would call primitive, 'country ware' and we don't seem to go all out in quite such a purist way as our friends in the States. Primitive style draws on folk art and home made wares made by pioneer farmers from the mid1700s and on into the 19th century. The real McCoy is fiercely expensive, and to the untrained eye, quite difficult to spot as contmporary pieces are often made from old materials.

Primitives are the early Americana.

Some of my customers find primitives the most difficult pieces to understand - they just don't 'get' it,' as items can be quite roughly finished and grubby looking. However, these are the same customers who don't like the old kitchenalia as they can't concieve using a bashed-up old spoon as opposed to a new 'clean' looking one for example.

However, myself and many others just love the primitive style, and I am trying my best to find some great picks for the Christmas stalls - including some of the magnificently strange primitive dolls. Will be looking for these at 'The Fall in the Field' on Saturday, and in Dade City next week when I visit Peggy of Antiques on Mainstreet - who has a great eye for all things primitive and how to make them look their best.